NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – An east Nashville newborn is alive and well thanks to a calm 911 dispatcher who helped guide the parents after the baby was born in the backseat of the family car.

Tuesday was a special day when the family got to meet and thank the dispatcher in person at the Metro Nashville Emergency Communications Center.

When Rachel Hoppes’ water broke on Jan. 13, the couple thought they had plenty of time to make it to the hospital for the birth of their first child.

But Rachel and her husband Brian quickly realized their baby had plans of his own.

Brian and Rachel Hoppes with Kelly Robins holding their son Landon

They walked outside of their home and barely made it to the car before little Landon began to make his entrance into the world.

“In the moment you’re just trying to do what any dad would do, protect your baby and wife. It was cold, misting; you felt helpless,” Brian Hoppes told News 2.

Brian called 911 and dispatcher Kelly Robins answered.

“The nerves kind of go into the back and your adrenaline is going and you just want to get through that call and get them help as fast as they can,” Robins told News 2.

The Hoppes have listened to the call several times since the birth and said they are still impressed by how calm Robins remained.

“She was literally a lifeline,” said Rachel Hoppes. “I could hear the calmness in his voice that I had not heard up until that moment and it really helped because we were both so frantic, not sure what to do, and if he was going to make it.”

Help arrived a few minutes later to take Rachel and her healthy newborn son to the hospital.

Robins says she has delivered six babies during her career as a dispatcher, but Tuesday was the first time she had the chance to actually meet one of them.

“All too often we get calls and we don’t know what that call is going to be and so to be able to actually meet him is an amazing experience,” said Robins.

Robins gave Landon a jar of change collected by her fellow Metro 911 dispatchers to add to his first piggy bank.

The new parents said they will be forever grateful for Robins and how she helped them.